Goodbye Charlie...

Charles Manson
May 17, 2001- Feb 11, 2012
(picture taken last night)

Dear Charlie,
You made a believer outta me. I was among the millions of (misguided) cat haters in the world...then YOU showed up under the fence, caterwauling at the top of your lungs! But so tiny and helpless- and full of fleas. I took you in (that was my first mistake) and gave you a bath (what was I thinking?!), then found you a blanket and a box to sleep in. I ended up bottle-feeding you. You fit in the palm of my hand and kneaded my palm as you drank. Then I would hold you just like a baby and you loved it! I started liking it too!
See, my intention was to find you a home. But the longer I kept you, the more you stole my heart. Finally, after "trying" to find you a home for several weeks, and having no luck, I took you to the Vet. When I brought you home I told Sweet Guy that it didn't matter anymore if we wanted to keep you or not, after paying THAT kind of a Vet bill, we HAD to keep you for the next 20 years in order to get our moneys worth! You only ended up giving us eleven years, but we will cherish every one!
You were a little stinker (actually, you were a-tub-of-lard-with-a-launching-pad-the-size-of-Texas-stinker). You only loved your momma. It was only if others had a bit of food or were real gentle-like with you, that you would tolerate anyone else's attention. You were known to be a bit of a nipper when ruffled more than you liked- a night stalker too, and I have the scars to prove it! But I loved you! You were my chubby snuggle buddy- and I will miss you so much! Thanks a million for all the love and joy you brought into our lives! Rest easy buddy...

 Dear God, I know YOU know best. But just for the record, I'm kinda tired of losing the beating hearts that I love. Just thought I'd give you a heads-up.

Yours truly, Caroline